On the Couch with
Jim McDowell

IPAA SA’s On the Couch sessions are a series of informal interviews with key leaders of the public sector. In their current roles, these leaders are seen as having a high degree of responsibility and influence over the future of the public sector and the people who work within it.

These interviews are aimed at looking at the person behind the role and focus on their interests, influences, leadership styles, career highlights, journey, aspirations, values and what they see as their priorities in their current role and insights for the future.

Our special guest for this event is Jim McDowell, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr McDowell commenced his role as Chief Executive in September 2018 and supports the Premier and Ministers in delivering the government’s vision for South Australia.

This is an opportunity to hear first-hand about the life and ideas of Jim McDowell in an informal interview conducted by Jamie Briggs, Partner, PwC. The interview concludes with a brief Q&A session with questions from the audience.

Since its inception, the series has acted as the host for a very significant number of public sector leaders including David Reynolds, Chief Executive of Department of Treasury and Finance, Commissioner Grant Stevens, Police Commissioner and Hon. Bruce Lander QC, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption just to name a few.

Mr Jim McDowell Bio

Jim McDowell commenced as Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in September 2018. As Chief Executive, Jim supports the Premier and Ministers to deliver the government’s vision for South Australia, with a focus on building strong collaborative partnerships across government and with the community and business sectors.
Jim brings a broad experience to the role, from growing up in Belfast to working in the private sector in the USA, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, where he has held many executive, non-executive and advisory roles.
Moving to South Australia in 2001, to establish the Adelaide-based headquarters for BAE Systems Australia, Jim was most recently the Chancellor of the University of South Australia.
Jim is a current board member at the Adelaide Football Club, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and St Peters College.